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Sherlockian collector Marvin Epstein commissioned this caricature from illustrator Edward Sorel, whose work has appeared in Vanity Fair, Nation, and the Atlantic, among many others. Sorel signed the piece six times.
All times US prevailing Eastern
2022
- August 20 A Scintillation of Scions Noon VIRTUAL Join in via Zoom for the 15th edition of Scintillation, featuring a fine cast of characters including Joshua Harvery, Heather Holloway, Ira Matetsky, Crystal Noll, Rob Nunn, Madeline Quinones and Christopher Zordan. Zoom registration is available here.
- September 8 - 11 Bouchercon 2022 This year's world mystery convention will surface in Minneapolis, which Bouchercon has renamed the "Land of 10,000 crimes." Registration is open. Click here.
- September 17 Second Annual BSI Trust Lecture VIRTUAL 2:00pm This lecture will be delivered by Ray Betzner, who will discuss the most famous Sherlockian sonnet ever written: "221B" by Vincent Starrett. Ray is widely recognized as an expert on Starrett, and is well-known for his entertaining and informative talks, so this promises to be a very enjoyable event. The lecture will be presented as a Zoom webinar, and will be open to all at no cost. Registration will be required, and we'll post the sign-up link here as soon as it is issued. Meanwhile, save the date!
- September 23 - 25 Jubilee 221B Toronto will be ground zero for this 50th anniversary celebration of the Bootmakers of Toronto and the Arthur Conan Doyle collection at the Toronto Reference Library. Renowned author and director Nicholas Meyer will be a featured speaker. Registration is open. Information is here.
- September 26 Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life VIRTUAL In another of his popular presentations for the Smithsonian Associates, the Red Circle’s own Dan Stashower will once again team up with actor Scott Sedar, this time for insights
into the relentless lawman Eliot Ness. This program comes shortly after the September 6 publication of Dan’s latest true crime adventure, American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America’s Jack the Ripper. The book can be pre-ordered from the usual suspects, and you can register for the September 26 Smithsonian Zoom presentation here.
2023
- January 4 - 8 Sherlock Holmes Birthday "Weekend" in New York. Gotham will once again host this highlight of the Sherlockian year, with events and hospitality galore. The BSI dinner will fall on January 6, the exact date (at least according to Mr. Morley) of the Master's 168th birthday. The schedule for other events--most all of which are open to everyone--will be announced in due course and posted here.
- January 11 - 22 Cats Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical feline fantasy claws its way back to Washington's National Theatre. Sherlockians will eagerly await the appearance of Macavity the mystery cat, who will pussyfoot in to demonstrate that, beyond doubt, he is the true "Napoleon of Crime."
For a much more comprehensive list of Sherlockian meetings and events around the United States and beyond, see Ron Fish's
Sherlockian Calendar.

Beacon Society Publishes Senter Contest Winners It’s always refreshing to be reminded that the world of Sherlock Holmes is populated by friends of all ages. The R. Joel Senter Essay Contest, administered by our friends at the Beacon Society, showcases student observations on the Great Detective, with essays written by young people in the fourth through twelfth grades. The 2022 winners have been announced, with their perceptive perspectives published for all of us to enjoy. You can read them here, and we recommend them highly.
Jerry Margolin's Art highlights Red Circle Meeting From his home-cum-museum in Oregon, Sherlockian art collector Jerry Margolin headlined a fascinating Red Circle Zoom meeting on March 26. Jerry's collection of images numbers in the thousands, so it was only possible for him to show us a few of the gems among his holdings. But what a revelation--and not just the art itself. Jerry confided one of the secrets to his collecting success: "If you don't ask, you don't get!" He pointed out that the simple act of asking has led to warm and lasting friendships with a number of the artists represented on his walls. To amplify on the artistic theme, the Red Circle's quizzer-in-chief Dana Richards presented an "Art in the Canon" quiz that gave us a comprehensive tour of the art mentioned in Sherlockian adventures. All that and more is available on the video of the meeting. To watch it, just click the screen. 3/30/22 AR
The March 26 Red Circle meeting with Jerry Margolin was fun for one and all. Carla Kaessinger Coupe's Meeting Notes are here.
Peter Blau receives inaugural Susan Rice Mentorship Award At its gala luncheon reception in New York on January 15, the Baker Street Irregulars debuted a new award, to be presented annually to someone who has enriched and enlarged the world of the Great Detective by helping aspiring Sherlockians find their unique ways to keep green the Master’s memory. It is called “The Susan Rice Mentorship Award,” and our own Peter Blau was chosen as its first recipient.
Introducing the award, Curtis Armstrong, BSI, reflected on the standard set by the late Susan Rice as a teacher, friend and presiding genius to hundreds of Sherlockians, going back to the late sixties. “She not only knew how to unlock doors,” said Curtis, “she could break them down, if need be, and leave them open for everyone who came after her.”
Naming Peter Blau as the first recipient, Curtis noted that Peter’s welcoming qualities of openness, enthusiasm and generosity are equally inspiring. Whether resurrecting the dormant Red Circle, supporting the Baker Street Irregulars and its scions, or encouraging the upstart women of ASH to start up, Peter personifies the true meaning of “mentor.” Curtis concluded by quoting Bev Wolov: “Here’s the key to Peter: he collects more than books. He collects experiences. He collects memories. He collects friends.” Congratulations, friend. And thank you. Full text of Curtis Armstrong's remarks here Photo: BSI Archive / Ben Vizoskie 1/21/22 AR


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